I appreciate that you're the OP and have the most sensible, measured reply to my comment, which was meant for other commenters on HN and not you. :D
Although I agree with you that the site helped their users overall, it's hard to say how Tumblr thinks of it. For example, they might not like that the domain has "Tumblr" in it but lacks the perceived aesthetic flair of Tumblr. That juxtaposition might cross some (non-legal) threshold for them.
I'm just speculating, obviously. My point is more that inside a company of any size, but especially one that's large enough, there are a whole set of concerns being balanced. If it's too hard to balance they're likely to choose the path of least resistance.
Who knows? I've done some work with software that integrated with Tumblr and my sense is that as an organization Tumblr really values control over all else.
Other companies have different personalities. Facebook is cold, calculating, and absolutely rational. They'll promote the shit out of you if it's advantageous and leave you hanging the second it's not. Google is passive-aggressive. Twitter is afraid of being intermediated.
But, yeah, if I were to describe the quality of Tumblr's personality it would be Mini-Me to Apple's Dr. Evil. What would Apple do if someone had a website called "isappledown.com?" That's what Tumblr would do.
You've gotta know the temperament of the animal you've decided you want to ride.
Although I agree with you that the site helped their users overall, it's hard to say how Tumblr thinks of it. For example, they might not like that the domain has "Tumblr" in it but lacks the perceived aesthetic flair of Tumblr. That juxtaposition might cross some (non-legal) threshold for them.
I'm just speculating, obviously. My point is more that inside a company of any size, but especially one that's large enough, there are a whole set of concerns being balanced. If it's too hard to balance they're likely to choose the path of least resistance.
Who knows? I've done some work with software that integrated with Tumblr and my sense is that as an organization Tumblr really values control over all else.
Other companies have different personalities. Facebook is cold, calculating, and absolutely rational. They'll promote the shit out of you if it's advantageous and leave you hanging the second it's not. Google is passive-aggressive. Twitter is afraid of being intermediated.
But, yeah, if I were to describe the quality of Tumblr's personality it would be Mini-Me to Apple's Dr. Evil. What would Apple do if someone had a website called "isappledown.com?" That's what Tumblr would do.
You've gotta know the temperament of the animal you've decided you want to ride.